HOT TOPICS:

Archbishop John Nienstedt: Differences on marriage remain, as does common ground

By John C. Nienstedt

Posted:
11/09/2012 12:01:00 AM CST

Updated:
11/09/2012 07:19:11 AM CST

In our democracy, citizens elect representatives and propose, through these officials, policies that they believe best serve the common good.

The Church's public advocacy of support for the Marriage Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is rooted in her commitment to advance the common good for human society. This is the same spirit that guides the Church's pursuit of economic justice, health care and immigration reform and the defense of human life and dignity from conception to natural death.

Faithful Catholics believe they must stand up for policies that promote the common good, even when they are unpopular. And so it is that the Church's rationale in proposing the value of maintaining, even by amendment of the Constitution, a traditional definition of marriage has always been, and will continue to be, guided by both faith and reason, ordered to the good of society.

The voters of the state have spoken. Although the defeat of the amendment is, to the Church's point of view, a very serious concern, it will not deter us from continuing to serve this community and the whole state because of who we are. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are tenets of our faith -- we also believe they are fundamental to the building of a just society.

It has never been the aim of the Catholic Church to alienate anyone.

Advertisement

We recognize that the public square is a place in which diverse points of view vie for acceptance. Our tradition in this country has always included and valued the voices of many faith traditions on a wide range of societal issues. Indeed, our founders came to this country, in part, in search of religious liberty and freedom of speech so that men and women of various religious convictions, or no religious conviction, would be able to debate varied opinions, but ultimately live side by side in reasonable peace, despite those differences.

We proposed, and continue to do so, that the good of society is best served by maintaining the traditional understanding of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This proposition finds its intelligibility in the order of reason and in the testimony of the Bible.

Although there may continue to be disagreement on this issue, there is far more we can agree on as we work together to serve the needs of society.

I applaud those on both sides of this campaign who conducted themselves honorably, and avoided, as we have, name-calling and personal attacks. In this, we have found common ground.

I also pledge that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis will continue to build up this community according to our principles, including giving voice and unwavering defense to the unborn, the poor and forgotten, the abused and the lonely. And we will continue to work to strengthen marriage, and defend it against all forms of its weakening, for the good of all society.

We can do nothing less than continue to propose and do our best to live out what we believe. We hold dear these gifts of truth from God, who is love, and who requires us to keep his commandments, in and out of season, throughout the passing of time. I offer my continued dedication to these principles, in all of their manifestations, in order to serve the common good.

John C. Nienstedt is the Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

We recognize that the public square is a place in which diverse points of view vie for acceptance. Our tradition in this country has always included and valued the voices of many faith traditions on a wide range of societal issues. Indeed, our founders came to this country, in part, in search of religious liberty and freedom of speech so that men and women of various religious convictions, or no religious conviction, would be able to debate varied opinions, but ultimately live side by side in reasonable peace, despite those differences.